The busy life of Virginia Tech's Rashad Carmichael

One player who has been conspicuously absent from many of Virginia Tech's spring practices has been one of its defensive leaders. Where in the world is cornerback Rashad Carmichael?

A rising fifth-year senior, Carmichael is one of the defensive standouts for a Hokies unit that was depleted after the 2009 season, but he has missed two practices as week this spring while doing an internship with a Head Start, a national organization which provides education and health services to low-income children and their families.

"It’s affected me a lot, just to be around everybody, the younger kids and their parents," Carmichael said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "It just teachers you a lot."

Carmichael works Tuesday through Friday, from about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., which means he is unavailable to attend Virginia Tech's practices on Wednesday and Friday. He said he attended the Hokies' workouts and practices on Monday and Saturday.

Carmichael, who plans to graduate in May with a degree in human development, said he needed to complete 288 hours of work in the internship. He gets 6 credits toward his degree for his work at Head Start.

It has been a busy period for Carmichael, between football and the internship. At Head Start, he acts as a counselor and chaperon for the 3- to 5-year-old children in the nearby Christiansburg program, working with them during the day and riding the bus with them.

"My dad told me I picked something I could see myself doing," Carmichael said, referring to his late father, Bernard. "And one of the things I could see myself liking is working with kids. It might not make as much, but it’s something I love doing."